Written Answers Tuesday 25 January 2005

Scottish Executive

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 21 and 22 December 2004.

Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 21 and 22 December 2004 together with Margaret Beckett, Ben Bradshaw and Ian Pearson.

  On fisheries, the Council agreed the total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2005.

  Significant TAC increases in four of Scotland’s most valuable fisheries were agreed: Northern Monkfish (47% initially); North Sea Herring (16%); North Sea Nephrops (12%) West of Scotland Nephrops (12%) with further significant TAC increases in important secondary fisheries: North Sea Whiting, Blue Whiting and West of Scotland Haddock (17%) also agreed. Rollover TACs were agreed for North Sea Cod and Rockall Haddock.

  Due to strong scientific advice, there were significant reductions in Western Mackerel (27%) and North Sea Mackerel (59%) quotas, the economic impact of which should be ameliorated in part by market responses. In conformity with the new long-term management plan agreed with Norway in advance of the Council, the TAC for North Sea haddock was also cut, by 14%. The impact of this reduction is expected to be offset by the less than full uptake of current quota allocations. The restrictions for Scottish vessels associated with special haddock fishing permits were removed.

  The UK delegation successfully rejected unjustified and unscientific proposals to close large areas of the North Sea to all fishing and also resisted the Commission’s alternative position of further reductions in days at sea for North Sea whitefish vessels. The current monthly allocation will be cut by a single day, but skippers using fishing gear with 120mm mesh size – as is already used by most of the Scottish fleet - will be granted an additional day’s allowance, with a net neutral effect.

  In light of scientific advice about the depleted West of Scotland cod stock, agreement was also reached on a reduction by two in the baseline number of permitted days at sea inside the West of Scotland cod recovery zone for vessels using whitefish (100mm plus) nets. However, an additional day is available to offset this, by way of a derogation for vessels fishing with nets of a mesh size of 120mm or above, subject to compliance with associated conditions. Days at sea available for other categories of fishing gear and areas of the cod recovery zone including to the west of Scotland are reduced by one day per month. However, the Commission’s proposals to extend the current area of closure and also to reduce the allocation of permitted days at sea by three were successfully modified. The current closed area will not now be extended.

  Significantly the Council accepted our argument that the Scottish demersal fleet has already undertaken significant reduction in fishing effort alongside other conservation measures with the aim of recovering cod stocks, and that further radical measures at this stage – as was originally proposed - would have been both disproportionate and premature.

  Deep Sea TACs for 2005 and 2006 were also agreed at Council. Four new species; Alfonsinos, Deep Sea Sharks, Forkbeards and Greenland Halibut were added to the deep sea regulation. The TACs for all four species have been set at low levels, though the UK has secured a significant share of the TAC in all of them except Alfonsinos.

  Otherwise there were significant reductions in most deep sea TACs including 17% for both North Sea and West Coast Tusk, 17% for West Coast Blue Ling and 19% for North Sea Blue Ling. Cuts were justified on the grounds of very strong scientific advice that fishing effort on these stocks needs to be reduced, but the more stringent initial proposals from the Commission were successfully modified.

  Through working closely with our industry we have secured a deal on quotas that delivers on our priorities and maintains effective conservation measures. The deal restores flexibility for Scotland’s fishing industry and shares efforts to protect threatened cod stocks more equitably between European partners, encouraging other fishing fleets to use more selective fishing nets – as the Scottish fleet already does - through the incentive of securing additional days.

  Like the Scottish fishing industry, I welcome the agreed arrangements.

  Finally, the Commission also presented a proposal on the simplification of the Common Fisheries Policy’s rules. Work on this proposal is to be continued during the Luxemburg presidency.

  On agriculture, the Presidency reported on two conferences which had considered the handling of animal disease outbreaks, including zoonosis (animal diseases transmissible to humans), from both the financial and disease control angles. The Commission indicated that it would be taking forward work in this area with a view to developing a more strategic approach to animal health. The UK strongly supported this initiative.

  The Council held an orientation debate on measures to deal with illegally logged timber imports. The UK joined a number of delegations in welcoming progress in this area while noting that further work to counter attempts at circumvention of EU controls was needed. The UK also welcomed the Commission’s intention to work closely with interested non-governmental organisations on this subject.

  The Council endorsed conclusions on the application of Cross Compliance conditions in the reformed CAP. Member states agreed to review the working of these provisions in the light of further experience.

  Commissioner Fischer Boel informed the Council of her intention to prepare a paper reflecting on the possibilities for further simplification of the CAP; it would come to the Council towards the end of 2005.

  Under other business, Hungary, supported by several wine producing member states, expressed concern about the protection of geographical indications for wine in the EU/Australia wine agreement. Sweden sought views from the Commission on its plans for proposals to improve the welfare of farmed livestock. The Commission indicated that further work on pig welfare would be undertaken in 2005 and proposals on broiler and laying hen welfare were also likely.

Asthma

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it estimates have asthma, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally in the form requested. An estimate derived from information collected under NHS National Services Information and Statistics Division’s Continuous Morbidity Recording system suggest that over the whole of Scotland in the 12 months ended in March 2004 approximately 213,500 people with asthma were seen by GPs, practice nurses, community nurses and health visitors. This figure is based on the activity of 59 Scottish general practices with a combined patient population of 375,539.

Body Piercing

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation exists regarding the registration and monitoring of tattooing and body piercing establishments and whether such legislation covers all establishments which offer such services, including hairdressers, beauty therapy outlets and women’s accessories stores; what qualifications must be held before a person can tattoo or pierce bodies; whether there is a standard qualification and, if so, which body awards it, and what organisation monitors and regulates establishments and individuals who offer tattooing and body piercing services.

Mr Andy Kerr: Tattooing, body piercing and other beauty treatments, invasive or non-invasive, are currently regulated by two main pieces of legislation, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969. There is also some local legislation.

  Some local authorities in Scotland operate registration schemes whereby, once premises have been registered, they are routinely inspected by environmental health officers. However, this is not consistent across all local authorities and there are no defined standards.

  At present, there are no recognised qualifications for body piercers or tattooists. However, there are professional training courses for beauty therapy, hairdressing and acupuncture in existence, some of which are recognised by professional associations.

  In 2001, a consultation was undertaken to assess the need for further controls of skin and body piercing to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other infections. Following responses to that consultation plans are underway to bring into effect a Scotland-wide licensing regime monitored by local authority environmental health officers and supported by appropriate non-compliance penalties.

Bridges

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cars cross the Forth Road Bridge southbound on an average weekday between 6.30 am and 9.00 am.

Nicol Stephen: Average vehicle flows at the Forth Road Bridge and other tolled bridges are shown at section 4 of the Tolled Bridges Review: Phase One Report , published by the Scottish Executive, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34847). A more detailed breakdown of figures is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority.

Bridges

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rail passenger seats are available on an average weekday on southbound services crossing the Forth Rail Bridge between 6.30 am and 9.00 am.

Nicol Stephen: There are approximately 3,050 rail passenger seats at these times. However, this will increase by nearly 700 extra seats next month when new rolling stock is introduced.

Bridges

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a multi-modal corridor study covering the A82 between Anniesland and the Erskine Bridge and the A814 between the Clyde Tunnel and the Erskine Bridge.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive has no current plans to conduct a multi-modal study covering these sections of road. These are local roads and decisions on these matters are the responsibility of Glasgow City Council and West Dunbartonshire Council, as the local roads authorities for the area.

Bridges

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake studies to assess the impact of the elimination of Erskine Bridge tolls on congestion on other Clyde crossings.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive made a commitment in our transport white paper, Scotland’s Transport Future, to carry out a two-phase review of the tolled bridges in Scotland. Phase One of the review, which included an examination of the effect that various changes in tolls on the Erskine Bridge would have, is complete and available on the Executive’s website at :

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/enterprise/tobr-00.asp.

  Phase Two of the review is now underway. The terms of reference for Phase Two specifically include an assessment of the impact that any change in tolls on the Erskine Bridge would have on congestion and the local environment, in a way that achieves an optimum outcome without having a detrimental impact elsewhere in the local area.

Child Poverty

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the levels of child poverty were in Glasgow and what monies were allocated to address this issue, broken down by council ward area, in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02, (d) 2002-03 and (e) 2003-04.

Malcolm Chisholm: Estimates of the numbers and proportion of children living in low income households are available at Scotland level only, not by local authority or ward area. Estimates on the full range of income thresholds and explanation of how these estimates are calculated are published in Households Below Average Income 1994-95 – 2002-03 , copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32212).

  We do not have information on monies allocated in Glasgow at ward level to address child poverty.

  Glasgow has received £110.4 million funding through the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund over the period 1999-2004 (1999-2000 - £16.7 million; 2000-01- £19.9 million; 2001-02 - £22.4 million; 2002-03 - £24.7 million, and 2003-04 - £26.7 million). This funding supports a range of anti-poverty initiatives, including measures to address child poverty.

  Glasgow has also received £37.2 million funding through the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund over the period 2001-04 (2001-02 - £6 million; 2002-03 - £9 million; 2003-04 - £12 million, and 2004-05 - £10.2 million). This has primarily been targeted at children and families on income support.

  Glasgow will receive £5 million (£2.5 million – 2004-05; £2.5 million – 2005-06) Working for Families funding over 2004-06 which aims to tackle child poverty by providing child care which enables parents in deprived or groups access education, training or employment.

  Information on the allocation of these funds at ward level is not available.

Communities

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that social capital can be developed in an area that lacks the infrastructure and the will of the community to support it.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Infrastructure and the confidence and desire of people to engage are important elements of social capital. The Scottish Executive has provided resources of around £3 million per year since 2001 specifically to help support the development of infrastructure in our most disadvantaged communities.

Communities

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken to address social exclusion within vulnerable communities.

Malcolm Chisholm: Joined-up action on employment, education, health, community safety and other issues is required to address social exclusion within vulnerable communities. Each of Scotland’s 32 Community Planning Partnerships is developing a Regeneration Outcome Agreement (ROA) to set out how the Executive’s Community Regeneration Fund and partner’s own resources will be used in the most deprived communties to deliver the most appropriate actions. The Executive is complementing the actions set out in ROAs through a range of activities and resources. Further detail on these can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion/17415/targetj#top.

Communities

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a definition of a "model citizen".

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive does not have a definition of a "model citizen".

Communities

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what indicators are used in relation to (a) social exclusion, (b) urban regeneration and (c) social capital.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive measures (a) social exclusion through its Closing the Opportunity Gap targets. Further details of the targets and the indicators used can be found at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/closingtheopportunitygap/

  The Executive’s guidance on Regeneration Outcome Agreements provides a menu of indicators which can be used in relation to (b) regeneration, depending on local circumstances and priorities. A copy of the guidance is available at:

  http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/upload/CRF-guidanceonROAsAugust2004.doc.

  Scotland’s three Pathfinder Urban Regeneration Companies are also developing appropriate indicators to assess their progress and learn lessons.

  The Scottish Executive does not have agreed indicators of (c) social capital. However, in the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) leads a Social Capital Working Group whose remit it is to examine and develop a framework for the measurement and analysis of social capital, including agreeing a harmonised set of questions for use in government surveys. Further details can be found at:

  www.statistics.gov.uk/socialcapital/.

Communities

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what community or communities were involved in the Granton waterfront consultation or will be affected by its development.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The redevelopment of the Granton waterfront is being led by Waterfront Edinburgh Limited. This is a Joint Venture Company created by the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian. The Board of Waterfront Edinburgh Limited includes three elected members from the City of Edinburgh Council. This representation includes the elected members for Granton and the neighbouring Pilton ward, in addition to the elected member with executive responsibility for economic development and social inclusion.

  This is major industrial and brownfield redevelopment project which is expected to span over 12 to 15 years. The development plans for the area are based on a masterplan that was published in December 2000. The masterplan was developed in consultation with various stakeholders and community groups and included in excess of 15 separate workshops sessions.

  In addition to this, development in the area is subject to the usual planning requirements with regards to public consultation. The three major landowners that make up the waterfront site have all arranged public exhibitions of their proposals.

  It is recognised that a development of this scale and nature will have a significant impact, both on the communities immediately adjacent to the waterfront area, and also to the city and city region as a whole.

Communities

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of community participation and the extent to which it increases democratic accountability and empowers communities.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland monitors the effectiveness of community participation in different ways depending on circumstances. For example, Regeneration Outcome Agreements being prepared by Community Planning Partnerships will need to set out the nature and extent of community participation in key decisions. Also, Communities Scotland’s regulation and inspection function looks at tenant participation as part of its inspection process. It is widely accepted that effective community engagement builds capacity and enriches the democratic process.

Crime

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted in each of the last 10 years for carrying a knife.

Hugh Henry: The available information for the relevant crime categories in the Scottish Executive Justice Department classification of crimes and offences is given in the following table.

  Persons Convicted in Scottish Courts for Handling an Offensive Weapon1, 1992-2002

  

Year
Possession of an Offensive Weapon3
Having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or a Point
Total


1992
1,493
-
1,493


1993
1,453
99
1,552


1994
1,020
471
1,491


1995
1,002
780
1,782


1996
1,139
1,101
2,240


1997
1,125
1,069
2,194


1998
1,086
976
2,062


1999
1,072
1,008
2,080


2000
1,137
1,101
2,238


2001
1,425
1,270
2,695


20022
1,331
1,256
2,587



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Figures may be underestimates due to time taken to record details of some court proceedings.

  3. Knives cannot be identified separately from other types of offensive weapon in the data held for this crime category.

Crime

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the levels of youth crime were in Glasgow, broken down by council ward area, in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02, (d) 2002-03 and (e) 2003-04.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not available centrally.

Development Department

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding has been allocated to Barrhead Housing Association in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Since 1999 Barrhead Housing Association has received £7.124 million in public funding. This is broken down as follows:

  

Year
Funding


1999-2000
£0.940


2000-01
£1.725


2001-02
£0.528


2002-03
£1.077


2003-04
£2.360


2004-2005
£0.494*


Total
£7.124



  Note: * Projected to 31 March 2005.

Disaster Relief

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its international development budget for non-governmental agencies or organisations has been allocated to support the relief work being undertaken in areas of South Asia affected by the tsunami and which agencies and organisations have received such funds.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has not allocated any portion of its international development budget for non-governmental agencies (NGOs) or organisations to support the relief work being undertaken in areas of South Asia affected by the tsunami.

  We have, however, offered assistance in kind, as requested by NGOs who were supporting the emergency relief effort. Eleven Scottish Executive staff in total, were seconded to meet immediate needs for administrative assistance at the British Red Cross, SCIAF and Mercy Corp.

  As the First Minister indicated to the Parliament on 12 January 2005, the Scottish Executive will be prepared to assist in the longer term reconstruction effort as necessary, as the assessment of needs becomes clearer.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times are for drug treatment in each NHS board area.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally. Average waiting times are not regarded as a particularly effective measure of the availability and efficiency of drugs services.

  The national framework collects information on the length of wait that clients experience from referral to assessment, and from an agreed care plan to one or more of four different types of intervention (i.e. preparatory and motivational intervention, prescribed drug treatment, community rehabilitation, and residential detoxification). The length of wait is collated in blocks of time i.e. the number of people who wait for less than one week, less than two weeks, and so forth.

  The first set of provisional reports from the information available is shown on the Drug Misuse Information Scotland website at http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/wtpilot/waiting.htm.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the new GP contract will have if GPs choose not to offer an enhanced service for drug users.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards are under a duty to provide primary medical services for the patients in their area and free to commission enhanced services, such as the treatment of patients suffering from drug misuse, from those providers which they consider most appropriate to meet local health needs. This means that an enhanced service for drug misusers could be provided by a GP practice or another NHS provider or even the board itself.

  A model specification for the delivery of a National Enhanced Service (NES) for patients suffering from drug misuse has been published. The specification sets out the service elements which the provider must already have in place, such as safe and secure premises, and details the elements which the commissioned provider must then deliver to its patients such as, developing and co-ordinating the care of drug users.

  The new General Medical Services contract comes with a patient services guarantee which ensures that patients continue to receive at least the level of services they received previously, although these may not necessarily be delivered in the same way.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are sufficient crisis and respite beds for drug users to access treatment programmes.

Hugh Henry: As set out in the National Strategy, Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership , it is for local drug action teams and constituent partners to plan and deliver the full range of drug treatment and care services in line with identified need and local priorities, and to spend available resources accordingly. Whilst it is not for the Executive to direct local plans, nor to make a judgement on whether or not there are "sufficient" crisis beds, or any other specific intervention in an area, a key element of the action plan published in the Summary and Actions of the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Review is to widen and improve the range of interventions available locally, to improv e outcomes for drug misusers. In support of this an additional £6 million per annum has been identified to develop and enhance a full range of drug treatment and rehabilitation services from 2005-06 to 2007-08.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it can ensure that current and future investment for drug treatment gets to frontline services and leads to successful outcomes.

Hugh Henry: Corporate Action Plans form the annual accountability framework between the Scottish Executive and Drug Action Teams (DATs). In these, DATs are currently expected to account fully for all drug treatment and rehabilitation funding allocations, including underspend.

  Additional funding, announced in October 2004, will be allocated according to proposals submitted from each DAT on the basis of projected improvements in numbers into treatment, waiting times and the range of services available locally. From 2005-06, Performance Contracts between DATs and the Scottish Executive will detail the impact that additional resources will be expected to have on these three key priorities.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Naloxone is now being offered to heroin addicts as an alternative to methadone.

Hugh Henry: Naloxone, primarily used as an antidote in opioid overdose rather than an alternative maintenance therapy, is currently only available to appropriate practitioners and paramedics. The Executive will follow the recommendations from the current consultation by the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on extending the use of Naloxone to include ambulance technicians.

Enterprise

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Project ATLAS has been a successful use of public funding and if so, whether it will identify the benefits which have been derived from it.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive’s broadband strategy is facilitating the rollout and uptake of broadband technology across Scotland. Project ATLAS fits within this overall strategy but is led and funded by Scottish Enterprise. Issues about use of public funding and the benefits achieved are, in the first instance, operational matters for Scottish Enterprise.

Fuel Costs

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding levels of fuel tax in the Highlands and Islands.

Nicol Stephen: The level of fuel tax is a reserved matter. The Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including fuel duty. Scottish ministers will continue to ensure that Scotland’s interests are placed firmly on the agenda in Whitehall on tax, as on other matters, through direct contact with Treasury Ministers.

Gambling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding bingo.

Tavish Scott: The Executive has been and continues to be in regular discussion with the UK Government regarding the proposed new gambling legislation and the implications for Scotland.

  The Scottish Parliament has now agreed that the relevant provisions in the Gambling Bill which confer powers on Scottish ministers, including the power to set fees and make regulations on the conditions to be attached to gambling premises’ licensing and permits, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the findings of the latest British Medical Journal report on radon and, if so, what new measures it intends to implement to combat radon build-up in homes.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive is aware of this important article which provides a combined analysis of the data from 13 case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer in nine European countries. The results of this analysis confirm that radon gas is an important public health hazard, the second most important cause of lung cancer so far identified, after smoking and, in particular, estimates that radon in homes currently accounts for about 9% of deaths from lung cancer and hence 2% of all cancer deaths in Europe.

  The National Radiological Protection Board will consider the implications of this study on current guidelines for radon preventative and remedial measures and give advice if necessary. A sub-group of the board’s independent advisory group on Ionising Radiation is currently conducting a review of the risks of radon exposure which will include this new study. The board will receive advice from this sub-group and will then consider, consult and issue advice on any changes that should be made to the UK scheme for controlling radon exposures.

  In addition, the Executive has commissioned the board to complete its survey of radon, in housing across Scotland, at a cost of £303,000 and to update its advice on the radiological significance of levels of radon in Scotland accordingly. The survey findings will be available later in the year.

  Both the existing UK housing stock and new homes are considered in measures to control the radon risk to the population in areas where radon concentrations are likely to be high. The Building Regulations require that in certain parts of the country anti-radon preventative measures must be incorporated into new houses as they are being built. Public and private initiatives have involved testing almost half a million homes in the UK with a recommendation that remedial measures are undertaken if radon levels are found to be above the action level of 200 becquerels per cubic metre for radon in homes. Local authorities can assist with grant, owners who cannot afford to meet the cost of remedial works.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional financial provision will be provided to the NHS prior to the end of the financial year and, if so, whether, as last year, it will be provided subject to the implementation or fulfilment of certain conditions and, if so, whether these conditions may supersede the clinical judgement of surgeons.

Mr Andy Kerr: A small number of additional allocations are to be made to the NHS prior to the end of the financial year. This will include additional provision to assist NHS boards make progress towards delivery of national waiting time commitments and enable boards to reduce the number of out-patients waiting more than six months from 52,000 to 25,000 and the number of in-patients/day cases waiting more than six months from 7,000 to 3,500 by 31 March 2005. The funds will be allocated on the basis of achievement of milestones for delivery of agreed targets.

Hospices

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish hospices will benefit in the same way as hospices in England and Wales from additional central government funding for palliative care and, if so, whether the transition arrangements will be similar north and south of the border.

Mr Andy Kerr: The funding arrangements for voluntary hospices in Scotland are not the same as those in England. Voluntary hospices already receive an average of 36.7% of their funding from NHS boards and we expect this proportion to increase to 50% of agreed costs by the start of the 2006-07 financial year.

  These arrangements are set out in the Health Department letter: HDL(2003)18 available at:

  www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/mels/HDL2003_18.pdf.

  NHS boards also provide their own palliative care services alongside voluntary hospices, and meet the costs of these services entirely from within their allocated funding. Since 2002, NHS boards have invested £2.4 million a year from the additional Cancer in Scotland investment to support and develop palliative care services and this benefits the services provided by both NHS boards and voluntary hospices.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many socially-rented units have been completed by Barrhead Housing Association in each year since 1999; which contractors were involved, and how many units were completed by each contractor.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Barrhead Housing Association has completed 188 units for social rent since 1999. The contractors involved and the number of units completed is set out in the table below.

  

 
Contractor
Units


1999-2000
Alfred McAlpine
Adam Birch Properties
83
29


2000-01
Carville Scotland Ltd
30


2001-02
Ballast
46


2002-03
 
nil


2003-04
 
nil


2004-05
 
nil


Total
 
188

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding has been made available to Barrhead Housing Association for the construction of new housing units at Barnes Street, Barrhead, and when this funding was paid to Barrhead Housing Association.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The association was given Tender Approval and an offer of Housing Association Grant in the amount of £1,929,677.50 on 28 March 2002. Prior to this grant, offers were issued to meet acquisition, pre-tender and demolition costs. The Tender Approval offer represents the total scheme costs at tender and incorporated prior offers of grant.

  As a result of the original sub contractor going into liquidation, a revised Tender Approval and offer of Housing Association Grant in the amount of £2,257,330.06 was issued to the association on 9 December 2004 to allow the completion of the scheme and to protect the investment already made on this project.

  In addition to Housing Association Grant, a separate offer of grant was issued on 9 December 2004 to the association in the amount of £528,327 in respect of provision of a Domestic Abuse Refuge which was being included in the Barnes Street Development. This was a change to the original tender approval for the development.

  Payments were made to the association between 26 March 2001 and 16 December 2003 on submission of valid claim certificates in respect of completed works.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many units have been completed at Barnes Street, Barrhead, for Barrhead Housing Association; how many remain incomplete, and when work on these units commenced.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The development at Barnes Street will provide 37 units for social rent and six units for refuge provision.

  Work began on the development in June 2002. However, as a result of the original sub contractor going into liquidation, the development is not yet complete.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements were placed on Barrhead Housing Association to secure private sector finance for the Barnes Street, Barrhead, project; how much private sector funding was involved; by which date was the finance to have been secured, and whether it was secured.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  It is a condition of the Housing Association Grant offer that the association obtains written confirmation regarding the availability of all other funding required for the project, in addition to the grant.

  The association was required to provide a private finance contribution of £896,710.50. In principle availability of funding was confirmed by its lender in June 2002 with final confirmation being provided in September 2003.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any adjudication decisions lost by Barrhead Housing Association in relation to the Barnes Street, Barrhead, project and, if so, whether it will provide details of any such decision.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  We are aware of adjudication decisions in respect of this matter. However, as the association is currently involved in a legal process relating to the matter we are unable to provide further comment.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any outstanding legal actions against Barrhead Housing Association in relation to the Barnes Street, Barrhead, project.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  We are aware that the association is currently engaged in the legal process in relation to Barnes Street.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial liability Communities Scotland has in respect of legal actions against the Barrhead Housing Association should Barrhead Housing Association lose any civil legal action.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Barrhead Housing Association is a Limited Company responsible for its own financial liability.

Housing

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal obligations Barrhead Housing Association has in respect of tendering procedures and what the role of Communities Scotland is in ensuring that such obligations are met.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland expects Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to meet a set of published performance standards which include provisions for ensuring RSLs find the most cost effective way of securing goods and services through procurement.

  RSLs are subject to regulation by Communities Scotland whose role is to examine how these performance standards are met. These standards can be found on the Communities Scotland website at www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk.

Internet Services

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to comment directly, or via the Department of Trade and Industry, on plans for the future management of the internet as set out in the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Strategic Plan released on 16 November 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has no plans to comment directly, or via the Department of Trade and Industry, on the ICANN Strategy Plan of 16 November 2004. This is a matter for industry rather than Government.

Internet Services

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it has made either directly, via the Department of Trade and Industry consultation, UK Government Consultation on ICANN and the Management of the Internet Domain Name System, or otherwise, to the consultation on the future management of the internet, as subsequently published as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Strategic Plan released on 16 November 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has made no contribution either directly or via the UK Government to the ICANN Strategy Plan of 16 November 2004. This is a matter for industry rather than Government.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12738 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 December 2004, whether it will provide information on motor vehicle offences under sections 1 and 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1980 separately so that there is a clear breakdown of offending relating to individual offences.

Cathy Jamieson: Figures on offences under sections 1 and 3A of the 1980 act are combined for statistical purposes in the relevant table in the annual statistical bulletin on court proceedings as the number of offences involved is relatively small. The more detailed breakdown of the information requested is given in the following tables.

  Causing Death by Dangerous Driving (Section 1 of the 1980 Act):

  Crimes Recorded by the Police and Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts, 1993-20021

  

Year
Crimes Recorded by Police
Persons Proceeded Against3
Persons with a Charge Proved3


Custodial Sentence
Community Sentence
Other Sentence


1993
56
25
17
3
5


1994
47
22
9
5
3


1995
45
29
12
6
2


1996
41
23
13
5
1


1997
35
17
14
0
2


1998
39
17
9
2
3


1999
34
26
11
8
3


2000
35
15
6
4
2


2001
32
21
12
7
1


20022
39
17
12
4
1



  Causing Death by Careless Driving While Under the Influence of Drink or Drugs (Section 3A of the 1980 Act):

  Crimes Recorded by the Police and Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts, 1993-20021

  

Year
Crimes Recorded by Police
Persons Proceeded Against3
Persons with a Charge Proved3:


Custodial Sentence
Community Sentence
Other Sentence


1993
5
2
2
0
0


1994
5
0
0
0
0


1995
5
2
2
0
0


1996
2
0
0
0
0


1997
2
4
3
1
0


1998
3
3
3
0
0


1999
3
1
1
0
0


2000
1
2
0
1
0


2001
2
3
3
0
0


20022
6
1
1
0
0



  Notes:

  1. The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim, and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also, a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and proceedings taken in a subsequent year.

  2. Figures for the total number of persons proceeded against may be underestimates due to time taken to record details of some court proceedings.

  3. Where these crimes were the main offence involved.

Justice

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a tribunal service for tribunals with a Scotland-only remit.

Cathy Jamieson: We have no plans at present to establish a tribunal service for tribunals with a Scotland-only remit. However, we are in regular contact with the Department for Constitutional Affairs about the creation of the new Tribunals Service, which will include a number of reserved tribunals operating in Scotland, and we shall consider carefully whether there are any areas where our administrations can work together to provide improvements for tribunal users across Scotland.

Justice

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government in respect of the establishment of a UK-wide tribunal service.

Cathy Jamieson: We have had various discussions with the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) as policy has developed on the creation of the new Tribunals Service. The first phase of the service will incorporate the seven most used tribunals, which operate on a GB-wide basis. Our most recent discussions have centred on issues relating to tribunal appointments and making of rules.

Justice

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2022 by Cathy Jamieson on 25 September 2003, what the average waiting period was (a) nationally and (b) in each district court area between pleading and trial diets in (i) 2002-03 and (ii) 2003-04.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table.

  Average Waiting Time (Weeks) Between Pleading and Trial Diets in District Courts, 2002-03 and 2003-04

  

Commission Area
2002-03
2003-041


Aberdeen City
n/a
n/a


Aberdeenshire
9
10


Angus
12
11


Argyll and Bute
12
12


Clackmannanshire
10
13


Dumfries and Galloway
7
10


Dundee City
10
10


East Ayrshire
9
9


East Dunbartonshire
9
14


East Lothian
9
9


East Renfrewshire
10
6


Edinburgh, City of 
10
10


Eilean Siar
n/a
n/a


Falkirk
9
11


Fife
10
n/a


Glasgow City (average)
n/a
n/a


 - District Court
n/a
n/a


 - Stipendiary Magistrate
n/a
n/a


Highland
9
10


Inverclyde
10
8


Midlothian
8
12


Moray
9
10


North Ayrshire
8
10


North Lanarkshire
9
11


Perth and Kinross
10
14


Renfrewshire
10
10


Scottish Borders
8
9


South Ayrshire
10
11


South Lanarkshire
9
10


Stirling
n/a
n/a


West Dunbartonshire
8
8


West Lothian
n/a
n/a


Scotland
9.4
10.3



  Notes:

  1. Provisional data.

  2. n/a: data not available

Livestock

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in consideration of changes to the calf registration scheme.

Ross Finnie: This is a complex issue with set European legislative deadlines for registering and tagging calves. My aim is to find a pragmatic approach which does not jeopardise approval of our Cattle Tracing System or the credibility of our beef industry particularly in relation to export. Discussions are on-going with key interests to agree a sensible outcome as quickly as possible.

Mobile Phones

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding provision of access in all parts of Scotland to 3G telecoms services.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government on a wide range of issues. The requirements for 3G coverage were set in the conditions of the licences auctioned in April 2000 and now administered by the UK-wide regulator, OFCOM. Each 3G operator must be capable of offering a service to cover 80% of the UK population by the end of 2007. Provision beyond this figure is a commercial decision for operators.

NHS Hospitals

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide recognition for rural general hospitals; how it will ensure that there are hospitals located outwith Scotland’s cities that provide 24-hour acute services in the long term, and what measures it will take in respect of recruitment training practice to meet these objectives.

Mr Andy Kerr: Hospitals in rural areas, including district general hospitals and community hospitals, make an important contribution to the well-being of populations in these areas. Maintaining high quality services in rural hospitals provides a number of challenges to NHS boards, who are responsible for planning sustainable services for the whole population of their area. Many boards are looking at strengthening linkages between rural hospitals and hospitals in larger population centres. The Executive has commissioned Professor David Kerr to undertake a review of NHS services, including how best to provide services in rural areas. The result of Professor Kerr’s work is expected in late spring.

  Clearly the recruitment, retention and training of clinical staff is vital to the provision of safe and sustainable services. Several initiatives are under way. These include:

  the establishment of a chair of remote and rural medicine in Stornoway, jointly between Western Isles NHS Board and the University of the Highlands and Islands;

  fellowships in remote and rural general practice;

  an intercollegiate group of the Scottish Medical Royal Colleges is developing plans for specific training programmes in remote and rural medicine, and

  a short-life working group is currently assessing a range of retention initiatives aimed at all categories of staff.

National Health Service

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to requiring radiology trainees to commit themselves to working in Scotland for a set period on completing their training.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive remains committed to building the capacity of the NHSScotland workforce and is pursuing several initiatives on behalf of the health service which will enable NHS boards to improve their ability to recruit and retain consultant staff for all specialities, including radiologists. These include:

  A Partnership Agreement commitment to increase the number of consultants within NHS Scotland;

  An action plan to take forward a range of options and measures to improve recruitment and retention in the short and medium term;

  An on-line recruitment website for NHSScotland, and

  A regional consultant role which is currently being developed.

  Also, to assist NHSScotland employers meet local health needs, the department has set up a national planning exercise to address these issues and the impact of staff shortages across the whole of the NHSScotland workforce.

People with Learning Disabilities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with a learning disability had regular contact with social work and health services, broken down by local authority area, in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02, (d) 2002-03 and (e) 2003-04.

Rhona Brankin: Statistical information on the number of adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities was first collected in 2003. This showed that at May 2003 18,066 adults with learning disabilities were known to local authorities in Scotland. Information by local authority area can be found on page 7 of the statistics release Adults with learning disabilities: Implementation of ‘The same as you?’ Scotland 2003 on the Scottish Executive website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00326-00.asp.

  Information from 2004 is still being collated and will be published in due course.

Police

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which divisions within Lothian and Borders Police have implemented an overtime ban in the last 12 months and what plans there are for extending, or implementing, a ban on overtime for the next 12 months.

Cathy Jamieson: Arrangements for working hours are a matter for the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police.

Police

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on the recruitment of special constables in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally and is a matter for individual chief constables.

Police

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many special constables there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Number of Special Constables Available for Duty

  

As at:
31 December


Force
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Central
60
53
49
69
75
57


Dumfries and Galloway
162
135
109
97
102
105


Fife
90
101
96
93
105
117


Grampian
125
120
117
99
104
131


Lothian and Borders
139
148
126
101
50
86


Northern
229
233
213
212
198
246


Strathclyde
338
340
315
302
249
261


Tayside
162
143
111
118
98
114


Total
1,305
1,273
1,136
1,091
981
1,117



  Source: Quarterly Strength Returns from forces.

Police

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent police officers (a) were employed in each of the last five years and (b) are currently employed, broken down by police force.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  

Force
At 31 December 2004:


2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Central 
717
710
728
756
795


Dumfries and Galloway
463
473
469
486
478


Fife
845
886
914
956
987


Grampian
1,238
1,256
1,248
1,311
1,373


Lothian and Borders
2,640
2,618
2,667
2,717
2,785


Northern
647
672
691
676
705


Strathclyde
7,169
7,226
7,294
7,431
7,615


Tayside
1,147
1,154
1,161
1,150
1,169


Total
14,863
14,995
15,170
15,482
15,908



  Source: Quarterly Strength Returns from forces.

Prison Service

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in its criminal justice strategy to reduce reoffending by (a) children and (b) adults with autistic spectrum disorders.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive report On the Borderline? People with Learning Disabilities and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Secure, Forensic and other Specialist Settings (2004)  looked into the number of people with learning disabilities in prison or in secure accommodation and the arrangements for assessing and providing them with care. The two main aims of the research were to:

  Explore the number of people in secure settings in Scotland who are known to have a learning disability and/or ASD.

  Explore the means used to identify, assess their needs and provide services for people with a learning disability and/or ASD while in a secure setting.

  The findings show that, in practical terms, there is scope for raising awareness about people with learning disabilities and/or ASD across the different disciplines in non-health care settings.

  Subsequent action includes the Education Department seeking reports from Secure Units on how they intend to take forward the findings of the report and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) taking steps to identify and address the needs of people with learning disabilities. The SPS will set up a Learning Disabilities Working Group to review its overall approach. Processes, are now in place for systematic assessment of offenders’ needs on reception into prison, which will assist in an overall screening process.

Prisoner Escorts

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are now serving on the beat as a direct result of the prison escort service having been taken up by Reliance, broken down by police force.

Cathy Jamieson: The table below gives information provided by police forces for the number of police officers redeployed from court duties. Information on the number of officers freed up from escorting has not been quantified by the police but it is estimated to run to some 100 officers. Also the next phase, implementation of non-core tasks such as inter-force and UK custody transfers, which is scheduled to commence this month, will result in further officers being released.

  Number of Officers Redeployed from Court Duties

  

Central Scotland
14


Dumfries and Galloway
6


Fife
4


Grampian
3


Lothian and Borders
35


Northern
1


Strathclyde
134


Tayside
12


Scotland
209

Public Appointments

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of public appointments in Glasgow was held by registered disabled persons in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02, (d) 2002-03 and (e) 2003-04.

Tom McCabe: The Executive publishes the number of current appointees who have stated that they consider themselves to have a disability on its public appointments website at www.scotland.gov.uk/government/publicbodies . The Executive does not, however, record this information in terms of location.

  The total number of disabled people appointed by ministers to regulated public bodies in each year has been published in the UK Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Annual Report since the year 1999-2000. These Reports can be accessed at www.ocpa.gov.uk.

  The number and associated percentage of appointments (including reappointments) made to regulated public bodies in Scotland in each of the last four years where the appointee has declared a disability are as follows:

  Number and Percentage of Appointees who Declared a Disability

  

Year
 


1999-2000
2 (0.9%)


2000-01
1 (0.6%)


2001-02
4 (1.5%)


2002-03
11 (4.3%)


2003-04
12 (5.5%)

Public Transport

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the option of reopening the Airdrie to Bathgate route as a light rail line has been investigated and, if so, what the results of the investigation were and, if no such investigation has been undertaken, what the reasons are for its position on the matter, given that Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance requires relevant alternative solutions to be developed for all schemes.

Nicol Stephen: Transport solutions in Scotland are assessed in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). This guidance requires that solutions be considered for all modes of transport against criteria for the environment, economy, safety, accessibility and social inclusion and integration. The Airdrie to Bathgate scheme has been assessed in accordance with that guidance.

Public Transport

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been conducted on the appropriateness of railway or tram options (a) as part of the Edinburgh tram proposals, (b) as part of the Airdrie to Bathgate reopening plans or (c) in any other capacity.

Nicol Stephen: Transport solutions in Scotland are assessed in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). This guidance requires that solutions be considered for all modes of transport against criteria for the environment, economy, safety, accessibility and social inclusion and integration. The Edinburgh tram proposals and the Airdrie to Bathgate railway have both been assessed in accordance with that guidance.

Rail Network

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12429 by Nicol Stephen on 8 December 2004, whether it has any plans to extend, improve or otherwise affect the rail network north of the central belt at any time before 2007 and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive supports a number of on-going railway projects north of the central belt, reflecting our commitment to improving the rail system across Scotland. These are at various stages of development and include:

  Commitments in First ScotRail’s franchise to invest £40 million for improvements for rail passengers across the whole of Scotland and throughout the seven year life of the franchise. Half of this amount will be spent on upgrading stations; £2.4 million of which is for enhanced facilities at the four largest stations, including Aberdeen.

  Freight Facilities Grants to increase the capacity of the rail freight yard at Georgemas in Caithness and the building of a new rail freight facility at Dyce, enabling aviation fuel to be supplied to Aberdeen Airport by rail.

  The Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine (SAK) Railway Scheme will reintroduce passenger services between Stirling and Alloa and freight services to Kincardine Power Station. SAK has the added benefit of taking heavy freight away from the busy Glasgow-Edinburgh and Forth Bridge lines, allowing improved and more reliable passenger services within the central belt and into Fife and beyond.

  A number of additional projects awarded funding from the first four rounds of the Public Transport Fund are identified in the regional leaflets associated with the Scottish Executive transport delivery report, Scotland's Transport: Delivering Improvements, published in March 2002, available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/transport/stdi-00.asp. Those projects receiving awards under the fifth and final round of the Public Transport Fund were announced on 14 November 2002:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2002/11/SEET181.aspx.

  The relevant authorities in receipt of grant are responsible for delivery of these projects.

  Additionally, there are on-going feasibility studies into Aberdeen Crossrail, Laurencekirk Station and the Gauge Enhancement of lines in the north-east to permit passage of larger freight trains.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-4586 by Nicol Stephen on 16 December 2004, whether the Minister for Transport will make a statement to the Parliament on progress being made on proposals for the funding of devolved rail functions.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-13619 on 18 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/wa.search .

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement following completion of the consultation process in respect of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Nicol Stephen: No, this is not normal procedure for such projects. We have been advised by Strathclyde Passenger Transport that the consultation exercise for the Glasgow Airport Rail link does not conclude until 28 February 2005. The Scottish Executive looks forward to receiving a copy of the consultation report when it is published.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement following completion of the consultation process in respect of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link.

Nicol Stephen: No this is not normal procedure for such projects. We look forward to receiving a copy of the Consultation Report from Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd when it is published.

Recycling

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much resources it gave to each local authority to expand recycling and composting in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has awarded over £126 million in grant support between all 32 Scottish local authorities for financial years 1999-2000 to 2004-05. These awards are summarised in the following table:

  

Council
1999- 2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen City
0
106,000
69,697
331,770
1,895,614
1,691,243


Aberdeenshire
0
188,000
74,962
1,272,608
3,350,000
4,890,000


Angus
0
75,000
36,022
231,138
359,000
1,706,000


Argyll and Bute
0
80,000
1,131,767
1,896,816
1,653,710
2,880,710


Clackmannanshire
0
25,000
15,990
182,531
1,148,700
235,243


Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
0
29,000
8,970
52,379
125,000
1,943,000


Dumfries and Galloway
0
123,000
48,105
128,295
130,000
3,613,000


Dundee City
0
72,000
47,085
224,212
0
973,000


East Ayrshire
0
66,000
39,802
205,469
324,000
2,560,000


East Dunbartonshire
0
53,000
36,547
166,281
212,400
2,147,600


East Lothian
0
53,000
30,120
164,555
195,696
721,000


East Renfrewshire
0
42,000
29,625
552,717
665,000
633,000


City of Edinburgh
0
223,000
149,602
701,132
464,000
6,483,000


Falkirk
0
73,000
47,617
333,212
2,601,000
2,844,413


Fife
0
187,000
115,612
582,286
2,289,400
4,581,158


Glasgow City
0
302,000
201,052
944,484
1,010,500
4,111,500


Highland
0
190,000
68,827
579,211
0
3,443,575


Inverclyde
0
41,000
27,915
128,193
0
1,882,961


Midlothian
0
43,000
27,120
115,919
0
1,363,831


Moray
0
58,000
28,027
170,032
107,000
2,853,071


North Ayrshire
0
76,000
45,810
236,144
314,000
2,031,000


North Lanarkshire
0
158,000
108,097
851,951
618,250
4,749,000


Orkney
0
21,000
6,427
62,415
0
410,000


Perth and Kinross
0
101,000
44,085
309,147
585,000
2,177,000


Renfrewshire
0
87,000
58,387
272,758
0
2,425,000


Scottish Borders
0
83,000
35,272
253,244
0
2,080,950


Shetland
0
25,000
7,402
75,309
0
587,808


South Ayrshire Council
0
69,000
37,590
213,317
501,000
3,427,000


South Lanarkshire
0
165,000
101,422
893,568
2,747,000
3,927,000


Stirling
0
59,000
28,117
349,381
2,916,670
1,559,965


West Dunbartonshire
0
46,000
31,215
137,250
0
2,400,200


West Lothian
0
81,000
51,697
1,551,320
930,000
3,314000


Total
0
3,000,000
2,789,985
14,169,044
25,142,940
80,646,228

Renewable Energy

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any targets for the use of renewable energy in its and other public buildings.

Mr Tom McCabe: The electricity consumed by the Scottish Executive is generated from 100% renewable sources. The Executive also has an overall energy target which states that it will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7% from 2003-04 levels by 2011. There are no further targets specifically for renewable energy. There is a Partnership Agreement Commitment to work towards a target for 40% of Scottish electricity generation to be from renewable energy sources by 2020. The Executive have set the following target in respect of the overall Scottish position – 18% of all electricity generated in 2010 to be from renewable sources increasing to 40% in 2020.

  The Minister for Environment and Rural Development is leading our initiative to improve the environmental performance of public bodies. The first stage is to assess what environmental management systems are currently in place and providing assistance to Public Bodies and Agencies to ensure they have an environmental management system in place by 26 November 2005. Once the systems are in place, agencies and public bodies will be expected to report annually on their environmental management performance (which will include their targets) either in their annual reports or as a freestanding document and information on the use of renewables should be available in this data. This information will also be collated and published on the internet

  For the wider public sector, local authorities are subject to a general duty to contribute to sustainable development, including their use of energy, as part of the duty of best value.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to alleviate the impact of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route on Camphill.

Nicol Stephen: We are looking at a range of options for crossing the River Dee. I expect to invite feedback on the results next month.

  A specialist study into potential impacts on the pupils and residents at Camphill has been commissioned. This report will give advice on measures which can be taken to minimise the impact, should the preferred route pass between Camphill and Newton Dee. In addition, physical mitigation measures will be set out in the environmental statement.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the building of the Fochabers bypass will commence.

Nicol Stephen: The report of the Public Local Inquiry into the A96(T) Fochabers Mosstodloch Bypass is currently under consideration. Every effort is being made to reach an early decision on whether or not the scheme should proceed.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to dual the A9.

Nicol Stephen: We are continuing to develop our proposals to extend the dual carriageway at Crubenmore by around 2km at a cost of £5.4 million and to provide 4km of additional overtaking opportunities between Kincraig and Dalraddy at a cost of £4.3 million. I expect to publish draft orders for these schemes this year. A number of other improvements are planned and work has begun on a route improvement study which will report in the autumn.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will expedite the publication of the route action plan for the A82.

Nicol Stephen: We are taking forward the work on the A82 Route Action Plan as a matter of priority. I expect the study to report in October of this year, and the findings will be made public as soon as possible thereafter.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the performance of BEAR Scotland Ltd in relation to road maintenance of trunk roads has been satisfactory and whether the working practices of BEAR Scotland Ltd, including drivers’ hours and conditions, are sufficient, and acceptable, for the carrying out of their functions in respect of gritting routes.

Nicol Stephen: BEAR Scotland Ltd’s performance on trunk road maintenance, which is monitored by the independent Performance Audit Group, has been generally satisfactory. Following an audit by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, it is understood that the Traffic Commissioner proposes to hold a Public Inquiry to hear evidence from Bear Scotland Ltd. In relation to drivers’ hours during bad winter weather. It is possible that any ruling from the Traffic Commissioner following the public inquiry could affect the current interpretations regarding drivers’ hours during winter maintenance operations and in these circumstances it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

Schools

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the creation of a new building for Lochaber High School.

Peter Peacock: It is for the Highland Council to decide on the priorities for the provision of new schools in their area, within the resources available to them. These resources include the financial support we have offered the council for a schools PPP project with a capital value of around £100 million; direct capital grant in the form of a Schools Fund allocation of £4.332 million in 2005-06 rising to £4.751 million by 2007-08, and the substantial resources which the Council can generate within the level they can afford, principally through borrowing, under the prudential framework.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total travel costs were for (a) ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in each of its departments in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: It is not possible to separate from the Scottish Executive’s accounting system the full cost of the ministers’ travel costs from that of staff in their private offices. However, the information available is set out in the table below. Travel costs include air, rail, hired cars, taxi, miscellaneous travel, subsistence and motor mileage and bus tickets. Restructuring of departments in the Scottish Executive over the period affects some of the year on year comparisons.

  


1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


£000
£000
£000
£000
£000


Ministers and Private Offices
302
316
290
274
281


Special Advisers
3
21
25
19
49


Corporate Services1
1,230
1,014
896
1,037
895


Finance and Central Services
593
614
688
725
643


Education
184
238
271
372
418


Development
369
355
410
439
553


Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
376
354
338
313
516


Health
253
355
389
528
477


Justice
322
327
348
381
406


Environment and Rural Affairs
1,690
1,595
1,866
1,625
1,669


Total
5,322
5,189
5,521
5,713
5,907



  Note: 1. Includes Office of the Permanent Secretary and Legal and Parliamentary Services.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Funds

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has now been paid out in ex gratia payments to the former members of the Scottish Transport Group Pension funds.

Nicol Stephen: A total of £125.65 million has been paid as at 17 January 2004.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Funds

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-4557 by Nicol Stephen on 16 December 2004 regarding the Scottish Transport Group Pension funds, how much of the £250,000 set aside has now been paid out in late claims; how long it intends to retain the remainder of the set aside sum, and whether it intends paying out the remainder to those who have already submitted valid claims.

Nicol Stephen: A total of £9,000 has been paid from the £250,000 set aside as at 17 January 2004.

  It will be retained for as long as is reasonable to allow valid claims to be met.

  We will monitor the situation on a continuing basis before reaching a conclusion about what to do with any remaining balance.

Smoking

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reported incidents there have been of smoking on public transport in the last year.

Nicol Stephen: The information is not held centrally.

Sport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the provision of a new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey; whether it will provide assistance to sports centres in rural parts of Scotland; what arrangements it makes regarding access for children to sports centres, and whether there is a national policy on access for children to sports centres to ensure that as many children as possible participate in outdoor activities.

Patricia Ferguson: The Executive fully supports the development of the new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey and is delighted that the project has been awarded funding of £300,000 from  sportscotland’s lottery-funded Building for Sport programme.

  Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure adequate provision of sport and leisure facilities for their residents. As in the case of the sports centre in Grantown-on-Spey, funding may be available from sportscotland through the Building for Sport programme. Applications are assessed by sportscotland against set criteria for the programme and ministers have no role to play in considering individual applications.

  With regard to access for children to sports centres, many local authorities already have strategies in place to encourage increased access. However, this is an issue which has been identified as important in achieving targets 1 and 2 of Sport 21. The strategy to deliver these targets is seeking to create or amend existing discount schemes and also consider the provision of transport subsidies to ensure that potential barriers are removed which restricts access to sports facilities and participation in sports programmes.

Sustainable Development

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it selects members of the steering group to develop the Scottish Sustainable Development Strategy and who the group’s members are.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has established an advisory group to assist in preparing a new Scottish strategy for sustainable development. Membership of the group consists of representatives from each Executive department (nominated by their departmental head) and the external members of the Cabinet sub-committee on Sustainable Scotland, the two Scottish members of the Sustainable Development Commission and the Chair of the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum Steering Group.

Transport

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households in rural areas do not have access to a car, broken down by local authority area.

Nicol Stephen: According to the 2001 Census of Population, the number of households in each local authority, in areas in the accessible rural or remote rural categories of the urban-rural classification used for the Scottish Household Survey, was as follows:

  

Local Authority
Households With No Cars Available


Aberdeen City
95


Aberdeenshire
6,071


Angus
1,132


Argyll and Bute
3,879


Clackmannanshire
221


Dumfries and Galloway
5,423


Dundee City
12


East Ayrshire
3,889


East Dunbartonshire
522


East Lothian
1,661


East Renfrewshire
79


Edinburgh, City of
665


Eilean Siar
2,112


Falkirk
1,157


Fife
5,101


Glasgow City
319


Highland
8,163


Inverclyde
251


Midlothian
1,198


Moray
2,507


North Ayrshire
1,471


North Lanarkshire
2,926


Orkney Islands
910


Perth and Kinross
3,776


Renfrewshire
469


Scottish Borders
3,142


Shetland Islands
1,091


South Ayrshire
2,048


South Lanarkshire
2,969


Stirling
2,297


West Dunbartonshire
63


West Lothian
1,889


Total for Scotland
67,508

Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal restrictions prevent local authorities from establishing local authority-owned bus companies along the same lines as Lothian Buses.

Nicol Stephen: I am not aware of either any legal restrictions which prevent local authorities from establishing local authority-owned bus companies or any provisions which specifically empower a local transport authority to establish such a company. However, there are general powers on which transport authorities could seek to rely. Local authorities which are local transport authorities (i.e. local authorities outwith the area served by Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE)) could rely on the power to enter into a contract at section 1 of the Local Government Contracts Act 1997. Similarly, the general power to enter into and carry out agreements at section 10(1)(xv) of the Transport Act 1968 would seem to allow for this situation in relation to SPT. In line with usual practice, it would be for any local transport authority, which wished to use these powers to set up a bus operating company, to take its own legal advice as necessary. Any transport authority which set up an operating company would of course also have to abide by the legislation in relation to subsidising socially necessary services.

Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still considers that "imposing a new layer of government between the local authorities and the Scottish Executive and Parliament would generate additional bureaucracy and involve significant disruption to local government" in respect of transport policy, as stated in the policy memorandum prior to the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

Nicol Stephen: The assessment made by the Executive in 2000 that it would be best not to bring in new statutory regional transport bodies but to persist with a voluntary approach was the right one at the time and was based on a careful consideration of the views of local authorities and other interested parties. Even then, the prospect of returning with legislative proposals to create statutory bodies was highlighted in the policy memorandum, with particular focus, at that time, on the Highlands and Islands.

  Four years on, it has become increasingly clear that the voluntary partnerships can achieve more if they develop. The consultation undertaken in 2003 demonstrated clear support for the introduction of statutory bodies that would build on the progress made by the voluntary partnerships, and in west-central Scotland by Strathclyde Passenger Transport. The proposals for statutory regional transport partnerships currently being considered by Parliament as part of the Transport (Scotland) Bill have been broadly welcomed by most commentators.

Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to each of the four voluntary transport partnerships by (a) it and (b) each constituent local authority in each year since their inception.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not hold information on contributions from constituent local authorities, but the Voluntary Transport Partnerships have agreed to provide this to us. I will write shortly once the necessary information has been collated.

Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it estimates that each regional transport partnership will receive from (a) it and (b) constituent local authorities in each of the partnerships’ first three years of operation.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has in recent years provided support for the administrative costs of the existing voluntary regional transport partnerships. In 2004-05, approximately £1 million was provided to the partnerships for this purpose. The Executive intends to continue to provide similar levels of support to the statutory partnerships, once established.

  The Financial Memorandum contained within the Explanatory Notes to the Transport (Scotland) Bill (SP Bill 28) introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 27 October 2004 gives details of the sums to be made available for staffing and administration costs, members’ expenses and accommodation during the first year of operation. Following the outcome of the latest Spending Review, annual capital funding of £35 million for regional transport partnerships will be available starting in 2006-07. How these funds will be disbursed between the partnerships has yet to be determined. This funding is additional to all on-going funding commitments to regional transport partnerships and to Strathclyde Passenger Transport.

  It is not possible for the Executive to estimate how much funding constituent local authorities will provide to the partnerships in future years, it is proposed that this will be a decision for each regional transport partnership to take.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still able to fund all its transport commitments and, if not, which commitments will not be met.

Nicol Stephen: Yes.

Waste Management

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much domestic waste was collected in each local authority area in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Ross Finnie: Data available from the Accounts Commission are:

  Total Number of Tonnes of Household Waste Collected

  

Local Authority
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03


Aberdeen City
124,094.9
102,117.1
93,312.0
106,201.3


Aberdeenshire
104,789.7
107,052.2
105,041.0
129,220.6


Angus
48,126.48
42,363.5
46,553.3
59,309.4


Argyll and Bute
50,331.84
44,249.0
48,907.3
55,473.1


Clackmannanshire
27,126.25
27,300.0
29,843.0
29,264.4


Dumfries and Galloway
68,000.54
69,452.0
*70,885.0
73,111.0


Dundee City
74,397.21
61,043.1
63,596.0
69,356.0


East Ayrshire
50,802.2
49,457.9
50,654.4
53,628.6


East Dunbartonshire
53,270.08
57,290.0
61,376.0
59,408.0


East Lothian
51,399.44
48,525.5
50,168.5
51,779.0


East Renfrewshire
49,133.06
46,524.0
51,599.8
53,714.2


Edinburgh, City of
221,750.8
200,484.0
200,973.0
208,986.2


Eilean Siar
14,866
14,796.7
13,565.2
14,661.3


Falkirk
76,371.05
73,261.0
74,365.0
70,233.0


Fife
167,624.3
168,029.3
199,247.3
210,768.0


Glasgow City
236,012
229,132.4
227,775.0
232,940.3


Highland
101,535.5
102,152.5
90,612.8
101,080.1


Inverclyde
30,394.68
28,643.9
30,090.0
31,002.6


Midlothian
45,052.86
44,888.1
49,728.8
49,358.3


Moray
51,963.6
48,610.9
43,651.8
42,663.0


North Ayrshire
53,729.76
66,717.0
73,827.4
71,485.8


North Lanarkshire
148,961.6
134,255.6
145,158.0
165,658.4


Orkney Islands
10,165.97
9,650.0
7,876.0
8,819.0


Perth and Kinross
57,641.98
77,196.0
79,739.6
80,579.9


Renfrewshire
87,123.6
83,211.5
85,362.0
94,041.6


Scottish Borders
41,515.5
39,495.2
40,372.0
41,812.5


Shetland Islands
12,243
9,613.0
10,388.0
12,066.0


South Ayrshire
58,681.7
53,198.0
56,493.0
51,933.0


South Lanarkshire
131,679.1
128,691.0
129,644.8
167,750.6


Stirling
44,565.44
44,357.3
42,582.0
40,602.9


West Dunbartonshire
34,144.11
30,347.0
34,819.4
32,569.2


West Lothian
73,780.8
73,988.0
80,269.0
91,157.5


Scotland
2,401,275
2,316,092.7
2,317,591.4
2,560,634.8



  Data for 1999-2000 was not collected directly and has been calculated by multiplying the average amount of waste per household by the number of households in each authority. Consequently there may be inaccuracies in the 1999-2000 figures. The data supplied by Dumfries and Galloway for 2001-02 was unreliable. It has not been included in the all Scotland total for 2001-02.

  Audit Scotland data for 2003-04 has not yet been published. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency figures detailing the amount of household waste collected by each local authority in 2003-04 are available at www.sepa.org.uk/nws/data/local.htm.

  Figures for 2004-05 are not yet available.

Waste Management

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of domestic waste was recycled in each local authority area in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Ross Finnie: Data on the percentage of household waste recycled by each local authority from 1999-2000 to 2001-02 are available on page 12 of the Audit Scotland report on Environmental Services available at:

  www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/pi2002/documents/report/servicespdf/EnvSer.pdf.

  Data on the percentage of household waste recycled by each authority in 2002-03 are available on page 11 of the Audit Scotland report on Environmental Services available at:

  www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/pi2003/documents/2003Report/servicespdf/EnvSer.pdf.

  Audit Scotland data for 2003-04 has not yet been published. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency figures detailing the amount of household waste recycled by each local authority in 2003-04 are available in Part D of the individual Local Authority Summary Reports at:

  www.sepa.org.uk/nws/data/local.htm.

  Figures for 2004-05 are not yet available.

Waste Management

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of domestic waste collected in each local authority area went to landfill in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Ross Finnie: Data on the percentage of household waste sent to landfill by each local authority from 1999-2000 to 2001-02 are available on page 13 of the Audit Scotland report on Environmental Services available at:

  www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/pi2002/documents/report/servicespdf/EnvSer.pdf

  Data on the percentage of household waste sent to landfill by each authority in 2002-03 are available on page 12 of the Audit Scotland report on Environmental Services available at:

  www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/pi2003/documents/2003Report/servicespdf/EnvSer.pdf.

  Audit Scotland data for 2003-04 has not yet been published. SEPA figures detailing the amount of household waste sent to landfill by each local authority in 2003-04 are available in Part D of the individual Local Authority Summary Reports at:

  www.sepa.org.uk/nws/data/local.htm.

  Figures for 2004-05 are not yet available.

Waste Management

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out on pyrolysis or gasification as a means of disposing of domestic and commercial waste.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out on mechanical biological treatment as a means of disposing of domestic and commercial waste.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has not carried out research specifically on mechanical and biological treatment technologies. However, the National Waste Plan 2003 recognises the role these technologies could play in delivering diversion from landfill. Information on these technologies, including case studies, can be found at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wtd .

Waste Management

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce legislation to reduce the amount of packaging used by manufacturers.

Ross Finnie: Legislation to encourage manufacturers to reduce packaging already exists. Under the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003, anyone may complain to their local authority trading standards officer if they believe a product uses excessive packaging. The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 require businesses with a turnover of £2 million and making or using over 50 tonnes of packaging a year to recycle or recover certain proportions of packaging waste. This acts as an incentive on them to minimise their packaging use.

  In addition, we support the Innovation Fund, run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, to help retailers minimise waste from packaging and products.

Waste Management

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is on track to meet the 2013 target for the reduction of landfill.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is working with local authorities to put resources and measures in place to assist in meeting this target.

Waste Management

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has allocated, or intends to allocate, to local authorities for capital projects such as mechanical biological treatment plants and gasification/pyrolysis plants.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has allocated funding to three capital projects of this nature to date as detailed in the following table:

  

Local Authority
Type of Project
Year Allocated
Amount Allocated
(to end of SR2006)


Argyll and Bute Council
Composting
2001
£11,024,733


Dumfries and Galloway Council
Mechanical/Biological Treatment
2004
£12,316,000


Western Isles Council
Anaerobic Digestion
2004
£10,138,000



  In addition, we are in discussions with a range of local authorities regarding possible Strategic Waste Fund applications which may include capital projects of this type in the future.

Young People

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replicate Operation Youth Advantage, operated by the army in conjunction with the Northern Constabulary and Grampian Police; whether it considers that schemes which provide diversionary experience for younger people, with a residential course including physical exercise and classes on drugs, alcohol and good citizenship, are the most effective way of turning younger people away from a life of crime, and what action it has taken, or will take, on these matters.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is fully committed to effectively addressing youth crime. As indicated in the answers to questions S2W-2071 (on 5 September 2003), S2W-679 (on 17 June 2003) and S1W-32193 (on 12 December 2002). All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/wa.search.

  It is for individual police forces to determine the extent of their involvement in initiatives such as Operation Youth Advantage.